Women Accused of Transmitting the Worst of Diseases

“I believe that women are the most numerous and fastest transmitters of viral diseases and epidemics such as [the] swine flu, and I am not making baseless accusations when I describe them as such.” [For additional excerpts from the Hamas Daily, Falastin, by columnist Issam Shawer click here].

Imagine if a government controlled U.S. or Israeli newspaper published these words in an article blaming women for spreading the flu virus and accusing them of transmitting the “worst . . . of diseases.” [T0 read Issam Shawer’s column click here].

There would be no end to the outrage and criticism directed at a Western publication for printing such an article.

But the more important issue remains: Why aren’t Western media outlets reporting on this story? Exposing societal bigotries is a worthwhile endeavor that deserves attention if women in Islamic countries hope to experience a change in their plight as second class citizens or worse.

Revelations of the hatred directed at women is perhaps best illustrated by honor killings, often imposed on victims of rape or incest, as well as by genital mutilation of young girls, beatings, and other forms of torture. From birth, the female gender is subject to all forms of cruelty, including death, for the slightest offense against a code of conduct defined by local Islamic clerics.

Ignoring the misogynistic prejudices that have been present in the Islamic world since Islam’s inception along with vile sorts of destructive racism directed against Jews, Christians, Hindus, and other non-Muslims as well, is disturbing.

Getting back to the author, Issam Shawer, what was his solution for the spread of infectious diseases by women? Impose “stricter constraints on the movement and gatherings of the womenfolk.”

In other words, the antidote for ill health in Gaza is for men to enforce stricter codes of discipline on women by locking them up at home and making their lives more unbearable.

The time has come to ask your favorite news outlet to stop ignoring the rage that targets women and non-Muslims with prejudicial rhetoric.